Lead-press



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LEAD PRESS. v No. 558,257. Patented Apr. 14, 1896.

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LEAD PRESS.

No.558,Z57. f PatentedApr. 14,1 896.

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H. B. COBB.

7 LEAD PRESS. I

No. 558,257. Patented Apr. 14, 1896.

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HENRY B. coma, or WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

LEAD-PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 558,257, dated April 14, 1896.

Application filed February 16,1895. Renewed February 24, 1896. Serial No. 580,538. (No model.)

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY B. COBB, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vilmington, in the county of New Castle and State of Delaware, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Lead-Presses, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in the class of machine known as a lead-press, involving as its generallystated construction a frame supporting a stationary or vertically-reciprocable rammer, a piston usually actuated by hydraulic pressure, a supplychamber for containing the charge of molten lead and in vertical line with the rammer,

and a die-chamber containing the tube-forming dies and extending across and communicating with the lead-chamber.

The primary object of my improvement is to expedite the evacuation, through the die, of the contents of the lead-chamber with the minimum amount of pressure, thereby to facilitate and enhance the rapidity of turning out the product of the machine. This I accomplish by employing, in addition to the downwardly-inclined wall with which the diechamber is preferably provided and which extends from the supply-chamber outlet above the plane of the core-tube to the base of the die-chamber near its discharge-outlet, novel details of construction whereby the female die may be maintained always in a cool condition to cool and firmly set the tubing product of the press the moment it is formed, whereby the lead-cylinder or supply-chamber shall be effectually cooled and maintained in a cool condition to avoid loss of time in the setting of a charge of molten lead run into the chamber, and whereby there may invariably be attained uniformity in the thickness of the tubing product of the machine.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows my improved lead-press in side elevation and beside it the furnace I employ for melting the lead with which to charge the lead-cylinder or supply-chamber in the lead-press. Fig. 2 is a section taken at the line 2 on Fig. 1, viewed in the direction of the arrow and enlarged. Fig. 3 is a section taken at the line 3 011 Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 4 is a sec tion taken at the line 4 on Fig. 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 5 is an inner face view of the female die eccentricall y confined in its die-block. Fig. 6 is an outer face view of the female die in its die-block. Fig. 7 is a view in end elevation of the female die as presented in Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a view in elevation of the female die regarded from the opposite end to that presented in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a section taken at the line 9 on Fig. 6, viewed in the direction of the arrow and enlarged, being an enlarged representation of the female die in its die-block, as shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 10 shows the lead-cylinder by a plan view with a section of the cap-ring removed; and Fig. 11 is a section taken through the circular line 11 on Fig. 10, viewed in the direction of the arrow and representing diagrammatically in a straight plane the vertical convoluted watercourse provided in the wall of the lead-cylinder.

A, Fig. 1, denotes'a furnace in which the lead is melted for use in the lead -press. The furnace need contain no features of novelty and forms no part of my invention. Hence it requires no detailed description further than to direct attention to the discharge-spout 8, through which the charges of molten lead are run at desired intervals into the lead-chamber of the press, between which chamber, at its top, and the spout a removable trough s is adjusted for the purpose.

B denotes the supporting-pillars, carrying on their upper end the head B, from which depends a stationary rammer O.

D is the head on the vertically-reciprocating hydraulic piston D and carrying the diechamber E, formed in the block F, to extend transversely across the machine. On the block F is supported the lead-cylinder G or supply-chamber for the molten lead, leading at its base into an opening 7 in vertical line with it through the top of the block F, and the sides of which should converge downwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, to the entrance of the opening into the die-chamber. In the hollow block F is formed the die-chamber E, with the opposite threaded openings for the insertion of the dies and other parts cooperating with them, as hereinafter described.

F is a sleeve or die-block of generally cylindrical form, being externally screw-threaded toward its outer end, at which it screws into one of the threaded die-chamber openingsreferred to, as shown at 00 in Fig. 2, and the sleeve is beveled on its inner end to form about the male die or core-tube I, herein after described, an inclined shoulder or flange which aflfords one wall (the farthest from the outlet for the product) of the die-chamber, the shoulder being at or about at such an angle of downward inclination that it shall form a continuation of the degree of incline of the adjacent side of the opening '1' and continue to the base of the die-chamber about to and preferably beyond, as shown, the vertical plane of the base of the opposite side of the opening '2'. In the block F, inside the sleeve F, is seated the male die or core-tube I, which should be hollow, as shown, if the product of the press be a metal-coated tube, say of rubber, in order to afford a passage for the tube to be so coated, though I intend my improved press for the manufacture also of mere tubing out of molten lead or other suitable material.

The core-tube is held against backward displacement by the set-screwp, shown as a hollow nut screwing into the outer end of the sleeve F, the core-tube being also provided in its outer end with a threaded socket 2 into which to screw a threaded head on the end of an instrument (not shown) by which to withdraw the core-tube 011 removing the plug 17. At its inner tapering end the core-tube I projects beyond the inclined wall of the die chamber afforded by the forward end of the sleeve F in line with and adjacent to the opening through the female die Kin a sleeve F inserted into and seated in the opening in the hollow block F opposite that at which the die I is inserted and held against backward displacement by the hollow set-screw or plug 1), screwed into place, as shown.

As will be noticed the wall of the sleeve F is considerably thicker on its under than on its upper side, thereby to reduce the space in the upper portion of the die-chamber E and accordingly enlarge that in the lower portion thereof by raising the die I nearer to the base of the opening 0', whereby the larger proportion of the molten lead is held in the bottom of the chamber, from. which the pressure against the ram 0 tends to force it the more uniformly about the tapering end or nose of the male die or core-tube.

The inner wall 0 of the die-chamber, when formed with the inclined shoulder about the core-tube I and afforded by the beveled end of the sleeve F, should incline downward at an angle of forty-five degrees or thereabout toward the outlet for the product through the die K and forms along its base portion a solid supporting-base for the core-tube nearly throughout its full length.

The operation of the machine as thus far described will be understood to be as follows: The chamber G being charged from the furnace A with molten lead, which enters and fills the space in the chamber E, the hydraulic piston is actuated to raise the parts supported by it. If the machine be employed for coating with lead a tube of insulating material (rubber) or an insulated cable or the like as it may be, the latter is first inserted through the core-tube I suiiiciently far to extend past the die K. The lead in the chamber G is forced with great pressure against the rammer O and discharged about the tapering end of the core-tube I through the die K to form the lead tubing or coating as the product of the machine which emerges through the female die.

Owing to the provision of the inclined wall O, the discharge of the lead from the leadchamber under the hydraulic pressure to which it is subjected meets with such comparatively little impediment that it runs out the tubing with a speed so great as to preclude adequate setting of the lead in the tubing by cooling. To overcome this difficulty, I provide means for cooling the female die to cause it to chill the lead in the dieehamber before the tubing is formed, and following is a description of the means referred to: About the exterior of the annular sleeve F I form a circumferential groove 0, in which, about the sleeve, are provided a series of openings 0', leading to the interior of the sleeve. To this annular groove I lead from a cold-water supply (not shown) a pipe '11 into a passage n in the wall of the hollow block F, leading to a point of the groove 0, and a similar passage in in. the block'F' leads from an opposite point of the annular groove to a discharge-pipe m, which carries off the surplus water introduced. into the groove. \Vith asupp'lyof cold water admitted through the pipe a into the groove 0 the female die is kept cool to chill the lead preparatory to passing through the die, and while the lead tubing or pipe is being formed in the die K the cold water which escapes through the openings 0 strikes the tubing as it is formed and further cools it to enable it to be handled on emerging from the machine.

I also provide means for heating the dieblock F, eontainin g the die-chamber,by steam, in order to maintain the desired temperature of the molten lead in the chamber. To this end I form a steam-passage Z in the wall of the block to extend about its contained diechamber and lead the steam (from a supply which is not shown) through a pipe Z into one end of the passage, from the other end of which, on the same side of the die-block with the inlet, it discharges through the pipe Z If desired, the passage Z may be employed for circulating cold water through it to cool off the chamber in case it should become undesirably hot, or to quickly cool it for any purpose, and any suitable valve arrangement may be provided to control the communication of the pipe Z with a steam and a coldwater supply, a three-way valve device,which would answer, being too common an expedient for analogous purposes to require illustration.

To work the press to the best advantage, it is very important also that the lead-supplychamber G should be always kept cool, so that the molten metal shall set to the desired degree to adapt it for being formed into the product of the machine as soon as possible,

or practically as soon as it is run into the chamber, and thus avoid the waste of time that otherwise ensues by waiting for the charge to set. Accordingly I provide in the wall of the chaniber G a continuous vertical convoluted passage (shown diagrammatically in Fig. 11) by forming, at intervals vertically through the wall, openings is, extending from an annular recess 1' in one end of the wall to a similar recess 1." in the opposite end thereof and being connected alternately at their opposite ends by arc-shaped channels i and i formed in the bases of the respective recesses '6 and i, and these annular recesses are covered, to close the openings 1:; and channels 1' by annular plates or cap-rings h and h, firmly fastened down in place. Into one end of this convoluted passage, at the base of the lead-supply chamber, I lead a pipe is from a cold-water supply, and from the opposite end of the passage, near the upper end of the chamber G, the discharge takes place through a pipe k A further important feature of my improvement relates to means for maintaining alinement between the longitudinal center of the male die or core-tube I and the female die K, which, if they get out of alinement-as, for example, by any slight bending or deflection under the strain of pressure of the core-tube or from any other cause-produces lack of uniformity in the thickness of the tubing product of the press, which will be thickest where the greater space is aiforded, by the non-alinement referred to,between the female die and the adjacent end of the male die.

As will be seen by inspection of FigsA and 5 in particular, the opening in the sleeve F affording the seat for the female die K, is cocentric with the circumference of the .sleeve and has its center at c, and the circular opening through the die K is also eccentric with the circumference of the die and has its center at c, which should be maintained in alinement with the longitudinal center of the coretube I. As shown in Fig. 5, the center 0 alines with .the center of the core-tube when the latter is in normal position. About the inner face of the sleeve or die-block F is indicated a scale g, and on the adjacent face of the die K is an index-point g. The die in the sleeve F may be readily turned therein by means of a suitable key inserted into the notches f in the outer end of the die, and the sleeve may be similarly turned owing to the provision of the notches f in its outer end, though the snugness with which the female die fits in its seat causes it to turn with the sleeve when the latter is turned. WVhen, therefore, the tubing product emerging from the machine shows lack of uniformity in thickness, indicating non-alinement of the coretube center with the center 0, the portion in the circumference of the tubing where its wall is, say thickened, and the degree of excessive thickness are noticed, and the sleeve F with the die it holds, is removed. By then turning the die toward the left in its seat the extent corresponding with the variation from uniformity in thickness, according to the scale 9, and when the sleeve is again inserted into place in the relative position in which it is presented by Fig. 5, turning it correspondingly toward the left, the required alinement between the center 0 and male-die center will be produced.

For the sake of brevity I designate throughout this specification the press provided with my improvements a lead-press, but intend to include by the term such a press whatever may be the material employed therein to produce by its operation tubing or insulated wire.

Vhile my improvements relating to the described functions of cooling and adjusting the dies are particularly effective in connection with a lead-press having the inclined wall in its die-chamber, they may also be used advantageously in lead-presses of different constructions. Hence I do not limit my inven tion to use with the inclined wall feature herein shown and described.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isp 1. In a lead-press, a die-chamber having the downwardly-inclined inner wall, the sleeve forming said inclined wall and the core-tube supported in the sleeve to protrude beyond it into the die-chamber and to extend closer to the upper than to the lower wall thereof, whereby the greater depth in said chamber is formed below the protruding end of the coretube, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a lead-press having a die-chamber provided with the downwardly-inclined inner wall, a sleeve confined in an opening at the discharge end of the die-chamber, the female .die seated in said sleeve at its inner end and a cold-water-supply channel leading to the circumference of said sleeve, substantially as described.

3. In a lead-press, a die-chamber formed in a block having opposite openings for receiving, respectively, the male and female dies, a sleeve confined in one of said openings, a female die supported in said opening at the inner end of the sleeve, and a cold-water-supply channel leading through said block and through the wall of said sleeve to the said die, whereby cooling-water is directed through the sleeve against the female dieand against the the female die and provided With a circumferential channel 0 having openings 0, the female die seated in said sleeve, and passages n and m, for the supply and discharge of coolin g-Water, leading through said block respectively to and from said circumferential channel,whereby cooling-Water is directed through the sleeve against the female die and against the manufactured tubing as it emerges there from, substantially as described.

5. In a lead-press, the supply-chamber comprising a hollow cylinder of metal having in the opposite ends of its Wall recesses i and t" containing channels i and 2' and covered by the caps h and h, vertical openings 75 in said Wall and connected alternately at their opposite ends by said channels, an inlet leading into the convoluted passage, formed by said connected openings, at the lower end of the supply-cha1nber, and an outlet leading from said passage at the u er end of said supplychamber, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a lead-press having a die-chamber containing the core-tube protruding at its inner end beyond the die-chamber wall, the combination with the core-tube of a rotatably-adjustable sleeve having an eccentric opening and removably seated in the Wall of the die chamber, and a female die rotatably seated in the opening in said sleeve and provided With an eccentric opening, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a lead-press having a die-chamber containing the core-tube I protruding at its inner end beyond the die-chamber Wall, the combination with the core-tube of a rotatably-adjustable sleeve 13 having an eccentric opening and provided with a scale g, and a female die K rotatably seated in the opening in said sleeve and provided with an index g, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

HENRY B. COBB.

In presence of ARTHUR WV. SWARTS, JOHN P. CHILDs. 

